Spool

ABSTRACT

A spool formed by joining two substantially identical halves. Each spool half is provided with projections which are inserted into openings in the mating half upon assembly of the spool.

United States Patent Feichtinger 1 1 Feb. 15, 1972 1 1 SPOOL FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Carl A. Feich inger, Rochester, NY 799,989 8/1958 Great Britain ..242/118.8

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester,

NY. Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath [22] Flled: P 1970 Assistant Examiner-Edward J. McCarthy [21] APPL No: 31,484 Att0rney-Walter O. Hodsdon and Spencer L. Blaylock [52] US. Cl... .....242/71.8, 242/118.4 [51] rm. Cl ..B65h 75/18 ABSIRACT [58] Field of Search ..242/7l.8, 71.8 A, I 18.4, 1 18.8, A spool formed by joining two substantially identical halves.

242/773; 197/175 Each spool half is provided with projections which are inserted into openings in the mating half upon assembly of the [56] References Cited spool.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 2,190,013 2/1940 Byers ..242/118.4 1,462,166 7/1923 Chapman ..242/74.2

PATENTEDFEB 15 I972 CARL A. FE/CHT/IVGEI? VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS SPOOL This invention relates generally to spools and more particularly to spools about which film or the like may be wound.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the processing of photographic film, the film is wound around several rollers or spools, some of which are immersed in the processing fluid. Heretofore, these spools have been constructed of two substantially identical halves which are glued or otherwise bonded together. Difficulties have been experienced in the utilization of such spools because the processing fluids may dissolve the glue or otherwise attack the bond thereby causing the spools to come apart with resultant damage to the film being processed.

Various means have been proposed by which these difficulties may be overcome, however, they have not been entirely satisfactory. For example, screws to hold the halves together have been suggested. The screws may loosen permitting the spool halves to open up or come'apart with resultant damage to the film. In addition more effort is required in assembling the spools, hence, a higher cost. In addition these prior art spools have not been readily replaceable thereby providing for a rapid change in sizes or rapid replacement of a damaged spool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide a spool that will meet all of the functional requirements for processing of film and which will be simple and inexpensive. It is another object of this invention to provide a spool composed of two substantially identical spool halves of plastic material which can be simply interfitted in the final assembly to produce the finished spool. Another object of this invention is to provide a spool which may be constructed from identical spool halves thereby requiring only a single die for the manufacture of the spool halves. Another object of this invention is to provide a spool that may be mechanically interconnected and does not require adhesives or welding to maintain the spool in assembled position.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and are accomplished by providing a spool of two substantially identical spool halves. Each of the spool halves is provided with a barrel portion, and a radial flange at one end of the barrel portion. A plurality of pins or male end members extend from the barrel portion in a direction parallel to the axis ofthe spool half. An opening in the barrel portion is interposed between adjacent male end members. Each of the male end members may be provided with an annular rib near its end which rib is adapted to be inserted into the opening of the associated spool half and to hold the two halves together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a spool of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view to an enlarged scale of a portion of the spool half of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, the spool is composed of two substantially identical spool halves l2 and 14. The two halves preferably are identical thereby necessitating the use of only a single die in the manufacture of the spool halves which preferably are formed from a thermoplastic, such as, polypropylene, polyethylene, cellulose acetate butyrate, nylon, polystyrene, or the like. Since the spool halves in the drawing are identical, only spool half 12 will be discussed in detail.

The spool half 12 includes a barrel portion 16 of cylindrical configuration and a core member 18 located within and spaced from the barrel portion 16. The core member 18 is also cylindrical and terminates at one end 20 in a shoulder portion 22 which shoulder portion 22 is joined to a web portion 24. The web portion 24 joins the shoulder portion 22 of the core member 18 to the end 26 of the barrel portion 16. A flange 28 extending radially outwardly from the other end 30 of the barrel position 16 serves to prevent any film wrapped on the spool 10 from sliding off the barrel portion 16.

In order to hold the two spool halves l2 and 14 together, a plurality of male end members, or pins 32 project from the web portion 24 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spool half 12. These male end members 32 are arranged around the circumference of a circle (FIG. 1) and are integral with the web portion 24 (FIG. 2). In the preferred embodiment, four male end members or pins 32 are provided and they are spaced at intervals around the circumference of the circle. Each male end member 32 is provided near its end 34 with an annular rib 36 which rib extends radially outwardly from the male end member 32 a short distance.

A plurality of holes 38 equal in number to the male end members 32 are arranged around the circumference of the circle on which'the male end members are positioned. The holes 38 are centered between adjacent members 32 and thus are 45 from the centerline of each adjacent male end member 32. The holes 38 are of sufficient size to permit the ribs 36 of the mating spool half 14 to be forced through the holes when the male end members 32 are inserted into the holes, but insufficient to allow the ribs to be readily withdrawn. The holes extend completely through the web portion 24 which web portion is of the thickness equal to or, preferably, slightly less than the distance between the web portion and the rib 36 in order that upon insertion of the members 32 into the holes 38 the rib will pass completely through the hole and be retained against the underside 40 of the web portion 24 of the spool half 14 in snap-fit relationship. The rigidity of the spool halves may be improved by providing a plurality of webs 42 extending between the barrel portion 16 and the core member 18.

The ribs 36 may, in some instances, be eliminated. In such cases the pins 32 and the holes 38 must be dimensioned to provide a very tight fit. If a permanent connection is desired and after the pins have been inserted, heat and pressure may be applied to the ends of some but not necessarily all of the pins to deform the same to hold the spool halves together.

While the above-described spool has been provided with an equal number of male end members 32 and holes 38, it should be understood that, if for reasons of manufacture or otherwise, more holes 38 are formed in the web portion, this device will function equally well.

In the event that a wider spool is desired, a hollow cylindrical sleeve member may be provided. Its ends could be identical to the web portion of the spool halves. The ends could also be provided with openings to receive the male end members.

This invention has been described with reference to filmprocessing spools. It should be understood that it has other applications such as in the temporary to permanent storage of film or other elongated and flexible items such as wire, tape or the like.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A spool comprising two substantially identical spool halves, each of said halves having a barrel portion, a cylindrical core member, a web portion connecting said core member and said barrel portion, a radial flange at one end of said barrel portion, a plurality of male end members extending out wardly from said web portion in a direction parallel to the axis of said spool half and being spaced from each other, a plurality of openings in said web portion adapted to be aligned with the male end members of the mating spool half, an annular rib on each of said male end members adapted to be inserted into its associated opening upon assembly of said halves thereby holding said spool halves together.

2. A spool according to claim 1 wherein said male end members and said openings are arranged alternatively around the circumference of a circle on said web portion.

3. A spool according to claim 1 wherein said web portion is of a thickness equal to or slightly less than the distance between the annular rib on said male end members and the web portion.

4. A spool according to claim 1 wherein said male end members and said openings are each four in number.

5. A spool according to claim 2 wherein said male end members and said openings are located an equal distance from each other.

6. A spool comprising two substantially identical spool halves, each of said halves having a barrel portion, a radial flange portion at one end of said barrel portion, a plurality of male end members on the other end of said barrel portion, said male end members extending outwardly in a direction parallel to the axis of said barrel portion, an annular rib on at least some of said male end members, a plurality of openings in said other end of said barrel portion at least equal in number to the number of said male end members, said openings being adapted to receive and retain in snap-fit relationship the male end members and ribs of the mating spool half. 

1. A spool comprising two substantially identical spool halves, each of said halves having a barrel portion, a cylindrical core member, a web portion connecting said core member and said barrel portion, a radial flange at one end of said barrel portion, a plurality of male end members extending outwardly from said web portion in a direction parallel to the axis of said spool half and being spaced from each other, a plurality of openings in said web portion adapted to be aligned with the male end members of the mating spool half, an annular rib on each of said male end members adapted to be inserted into its associated opening upon assembly of said halves thereby holding said spool halves together.
 2. A spool according to claim 1 wherein said male end members and said openings are arranged alternatively around the circumference of a circle on said web portion.
 3. A spool according to claim 1 wherein said web portion is of a thickness equal to or slightly less than the distance between the annular rib on said male end members and the web portion.
 4. A spool according to claim 1 wherein said male end members and said openings are each four in number.
 5. A spool according to claim 2 wherein said male end members and said openings are located an equal distance from each other.
 6. A spool comprising two substantially identical spool halves, each of said halves having a barrel portion, a radial flange portion at one end of said barrel portion, a plurality of male end members on the other end of said barrel portion, said male end members extending outwardly in a direction parallel to the axis of said barrel portion, an annular rib on at least some of said male end members, a plurality of openings in said other end of said barrel portion at least equal in number to the number of said male end members, said openings being adapted to receive and retain in snap-fit relationship the male end members and ribs of the mating spool half. 